LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State Coach Dickey Nutt hasn't locked in his starting five, but there is no mystery who one of them will be.
Guard Adrian Banks was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team during media days at Mobile, Ala., this week. The honor was far from shocking, given Banks' Newcomer of the Year performance last season.
"We're very proud of Adrian and what he's been able to accomplish in the short time he's been here," Nutt said of Banks, who transferred from Northwest Mississippi Community College. "And the reason we feel so confident and so good about promoting Adrian Banks is the way he conducts himself off the floor.That's what makes him a special player."
Banks averaged 21.1 points and set an Indians single-season record with 695, second in the Sun Belt, to help the Indians to the West Division title and the tournament final against eventual champion North Texas. Such success could lead to problems with some players, Nutt said, but not Banks.
"They seem to think maybe they can make their own rules and do everything not exactly the way the coach wants to do it. ... But Adrian is an outstanding person," Nutt said.
Nutt did feel that another standout, sophomore guard Ryan Wedel, was overlooked, both in the postseason voting during his freshman year and on the preseason ballot now.
Louisiana-Lafayette guard Elijah Millsap was Freshman of the Year after leading all freshmen with 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game last season and was a thirdteam preseason pick. Wedel, who averaged 10.7 points per game and had a team-high 92 assists last year, did not appear on any of the preseason all-conference teams in Mobile.
"I think Ryan Wedel and [Indians forward] Shawn Morgan, I'm sure were talked about, but it's just a tough year," Nutt said. "You've got a lot of good players coming back. ... I still believe that no freshman did more for their team than Ryan Wedel did for us. Ryan Wedel was able to move his team to a first-place finish vs. the other situation."
Millsaps' Ragin' Cajuns were 9-21 last year, but regardless of the voting, Nutt said he was expecting big things again from Wedel.
"I made my case, the rest has to be proven, so here we are in his second year and we have to see what happens," Nutt said.
The Indians were picked third in the West after going 18-15, 11-7 and winning the division with a late charge last season. With Banks, Wedel and Morgan among six returning lettermen, it could have been argued the Indians would be picked higher.
But Nutt said the departure of forward Isaac Wells - along with his averages of 15.8 points and 8.3 rebounds - to the professional ranks in Italy probably affected the way the Indians are seen in the preseason.
"Preseason predictions never bother me," Nutt said. "The one thing I'm sure everybody ... I know they talked to me about was the departure of Isaac Wells. And anytime you take a first-team allconference guy out of your lineup, people think you're going to take a hit, which you will."
Louisiana-Monroe was picked to win the West, and defendingleague champion North Texas was picked second. New Orleans, Louisiana-Lafayette, UALR and Denver fell in line behind the No. 3 Indians.
"Monroe is very deserving. They've got everybody back, and North Texas has a new team, so I'm sure it will be a war this year," Nutt said.
While leaning on Banks, Wedel and Morgan, Nutt said he wasn't sure who would make up his starting five when the season tips off against Utah Valley State in Jonesboro on Nov. 14. Nutt said he is used to relying on a nucleus of seven but might need all 13 players this season.
"It's a slow start. We can't guard anybody, to be honest with you, right now," Nutt said. "Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of time. We're basically going through a cram course right now. We have six, seven new players that are going to be a big part of our team."
Sports, Pages 25 on 10/27/2007